Apparatus for treating gases



' Feb. 14, 1939. Y E. SANDER 2,147,109

APPARATUS FOR TBEAiING GASES Filed Oct. 18, 1934 s SheetsSheet 1 [liven/01':

Feb. 14,1939. E. SANDER 2,147,109

APPARATUS FOR TREATING GASES Filed Oct. 18, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 14, 1939. E. SANDER v APPQ RATU S FOR TREATING GASES Filed Oct. 18, 1934 s Sheets-Sheet s Patented Feb. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE maas'ros non rannrme GASES Ernst Sander, Deccan, Germany Application October 18, In Germany 40laims.

The invention relates to an apparatus for treatment of gases or vaporswhich behave like gases or-mixtures thereof, hereinafter designated gas for simplicity. The apparatus involves the absorption of the gas by circulating liquid incontact with a diaphragm through which the gas passes, and boiling out the absorbed gas in a space, and delivery of the gas into another space. The apparatus is particularly fieful for refrigeration 1 systems.

According to my invention gas is continuously passed from one space through a diaphragm into a liquid in another space. The last said space consists of two parts, 1 A hydrostatic pressure is maintained in the part in contact with the diaphragm, that is the 'gas absorbing part, by boiling the degasified liquid from the other part, that is, from the'boiling 'part, over-a dividing partition into the absorbing part. The two parts of the liquid space are connected so that the two said parts are under equal gas pressure.- Asa result oi the hydrostatic pressure head a circulation of liquid takes place so that cool liquid flows to and along'the diaphragm while warm liquid 5 flows away from the diaphragm.

The diaphragm through which the gaspasses into contact with the absorption liquid is specially constructed in view of the particular gas to be used and consists of material which would ad- 0 sorb the gas rather than permit it to pass through it, but which gives up the gas to the liquid having a'stronger tendency to'absorb it.

The diaphragm can be a porous mass, for example, burnt clay, artificial stone, or like products-of, organic or inorganic material. It can be a single or multiple layered body and, if desired, may have separated layers. 7 It can be covered with layers of. adsorption material which absorb gas more weakly than the liquid, for instance, .turf dust. As such adsorption material, turi dust, inorganic materials, mixtures of organic and inorganic substances, or layers of such materials, which possess gas absorbing qualities are useful. The diaphragm itself may also consist 5 of such adsorptio'nsubstances in compressed condition, whereby the gas absorption takes place very effectively and rapidly.

. The diaphragm can be provided with good heat conductors, These can also surroundthe dia- 50 phragm or beplaced within or outside the diaphragm. In' this way, a uniform distribution of absorption heat, or good heat dissipation is attained, and at the same time a good resistance against stress caused by pressure difierence and '55 the like is attained.

1934, Serial No. 748,972 May 31, 19::

The diaphragm can have the form 01' a closed hollow body into whichthe gas inlet pipe enters, or the form of a one or more separated; layered head walls between a liquid chamber and a. gas chamber. The diaphragm can also be part. of a 5 wall having gas channels, or'may comprise filling material in a space which lies between the liquid and gas spaces.

For aiding the diffusion a constant current can be passed to the diaphragm. 1'

In order to absorb the gas. it may be conducted along one or more absorption walls continually in contact with unsaturated absorption liquid. For this purpose, several semipermeable walls can be used each of which is in combination with '15 a different circulation of absorption liquid.

.By this means gas can be brought from lower to higher pressure. Furthermore, reduced pressure can,be produced in this way.

Preferably, this apparatus is applied for the 20 treatment or absorption of methylamine, which is of importance as a cold producer for refrigera tion.

The treatmentof gas and its absorption according to the invention is particularlyuseful for 25 absorption type refrigerators.

In the drawings several embodiments of the new apparatus are illustrated.

Figs. 1 and 2 diagrammatically illustrate two embodiments of absorption-boiler plants;

- Fig. 3 diagrammatically illustrates an entire plant of an absorption refrigerator;

Figs. 4 and5 show embodiments of walls oi. the absorption chamber;

Figs. 6-8 illustrate expansion chambers for the 35 evaporation of liquid gases;

Fig. 9 shows a special type of absorption substance between thegas and liquid spaces; and

Figs. 1.0 and 11 show special plants for the circulation of the absorption liquid'according' to the device shown in Fig. 9. r

It will be'seen'from Figs. 1 and 2 that inthe boiling out process, the exchange of heat and the absorption of the gas may take place in one vessel.

Numeral ldesignates a metallic vessel, 4 the boiler with the heating tube 2, 3 a heating element, 5 a tubularbody, consisting, if desir'ed,-of metal, which can be suitably enlarged at the lower end in the form of an inverted funnel. Numeral 6 is the diaphragm allowing gas to pass through, but impervious to liquid, by means of which the gas is brought into contact with the absorption liquid. Numeral I is the gas chamber communicating with an evaporator, not shown, 65

through the medium .ofthe piping I. Numeral l is a filter intended for trapping the water which has been carried along, while III represents a pipe connection leading to a condenser, not shown.

This arrangement is intended for being heated electrically. The vessel I is charged with the absorption liquid to such an extent, that a part of the tube projects from the liquid. If the electric heating element 3 is operated,'the liquid, contained within the heating space or chamber 4, will be strongly heated. The gas will be boiled out and the degasified liquid will flow over the tube 5. The level of the liquid will tend to be equalized automatically, in consequence of which the degasified liquid drops outside of the heatin space or chamber 4. Owing to the contact with the gas passing through wall '6 in the absorption space or zone, it will be again charged with gas and passes through the tubular body 5 to the Ichamber 4 again where it is heated. The ribs II serve for the purpose of .the surplus heat. In accordance with Fig. 2 the heatingztube 2 .is positioned at the side of the tube 5 and provided with a lateral aperture corresponding with .a similar aperture in the wall of the vessel I.

This arrangement is intended for being heated by means of a flame or through the medium of hot gases. The process of boiling, the exchange of ;heat, the cycle of the liquid, andof absorption is similar. to that of the device according to Fig. 1. The iunnel-shaped portion of tube 5 should dissipating cover atleast part of the absorption chamber or space.

In Fig. 3 the boiler is indicated by I2. Numeral It indicates a liquid extraction vessel, I5 the liquifier, I6 the expansion nozzle, II the evaporator, I8 the re-cooler, and I9 the absorber. In .the boiler I2 gas, which may be methylamine, :is driven out of the absorption liquid, which may be water, by boiling with the aid of the heater 2,

whereby the degasified liquid flows into the vessel 'to pass into .the absorber I9 through the pipe 20 and further, th'rough pipe 2I into the boiler I2. Theboiled .out gas escapes from the precipitating vessel I3 via a. filter type liquid extractor I4 into the liquifier I5, where, owing to the elimination of heat, the gas is rendered liquid. Flowing through the nozzle I6 into the evaporator II, the gas will evaporate owing to the drop in pressure. Subsequently the gas is made to pass into the recooler I8, in connection with which the liquified gas is. sub-cooled, finally' being taken up by the solvent within the porous cylinder in the absorber. a

In Figs. 4 and 5 a porous body or diaphragm 23 is surrounded by adsorption substance 24 which absorbs the gas rather than permits the gas to pass through it, such as peat dust (Torfnlull) silica-gel or the like. A metal plate 26 having openings or formed of metal bands holds such gas absorption substance'in place. A metallic framework 26 may be provided for strengthening-the structure and for dissipation of heat. ,Numeral 8 is the connection pipe from the evaporator, 21 the connection pipe from the boiler and 28, the connection pipe to the boiler.

In Fig. 6 the evaporator chamber 29 is provided with good heat conductors 30, which may form a framework. As shown in Figs. "1 and 8, the

good heat conductors may surround the chamber as metallic plate 3| which may have openings formed therein or may consist of metallic bands.

The conductors may also be formed as a cellular,

system as -at 32, in Fig. 7. Also a packing of metallic chips or the like may be arranged surrounding the chamber, as in- Fig. 8. The mentioned arrangements may also be used in combination.

Further, the evaporator chamber may have the heat conductors distributed in the body walls.

The chamber walls may be of organic substance as peat dust (Torfmull) or organic artificial substances as porous or microporous hard or soft rubber or metal sponge. 1

The liquified gas may enter into the chamber as liquid or in sprayed state.

The thickness and size and direction of the porosity or the degree of the mechanical condensation of the evaporator chamber can. be modified in consequence of difierent mechanical stresses. For carrying these mechanical stresses a framework may be provided.

In Figs. 9 to 11 thevessel 39, extending between vessel I and the vessel 40, is filled with absorption material and has openings in the walls contacted by the liquid in the vessel I, and also in the walls contacted by the gas in the vessel 40, flowing from the evaporator. buffer space, which may be provided. The tube '5 conducts the liquid from below to the absorber Vessel 40 is a:

and around it. The boiler 4 is preferably of small 1. A diaphragm for use in absorption refrigeration comprising a semi-permeable wall which is impermeable to absorption liquid but permeable to refrigerant gas, said wall having good heat conductors comprising metal bands which envelop said wall so that a good distribution of the absorption heat and a good heat dissipation takes place and the mechanical stress produced by pressure difference and the like effects are borne securely by the diaphragm.

2. A diaphragm as claimed in claim 1, the semi-permeable wall of which consists of material which absorbs the gas rather than permitting the gas to pass through it.

3. A diaphragm as claimed in claim 1, in which the wall is a closed hollow body and consists of a plurality of layers, one of which is a material which absorbs the gas rather than permitting the gas to pass through it.

4. A diaphragm as claimed in claim 1, and a metallic framework within the semi-permeable wall.

ERNST SANDER. 

